Submitted Photo In celebration of March for Meals 2017, members of Girl Scout Troop 20098 of Silver Creek delivered over 60 boxes of cookies to Meals on Wheels clients throughout the greater Silver Creek area. The cookies were purchased for distribution by Jim White’s Truck and Auto Center.

Dunkirk-Fredonia Meals on Wheels will be participating in the 16th annual March for Meals — a month-long, community-by-community celebration of Meal on Wheels and the vulnerable seniors who rely on the vital service to remain independent at home.

The annual “March” commemorates the historic day in March 1972 when President Nixon signed into law a measure that amended the Older Americans Act of 1965 and established a national nutrition program for seniors 60 years and older. Since 2002, Meals on Wheels programs from across the country have joined forces for the annual awareness campaign to celebrate this successful public-private partnership and garner the support needed to fill the gap between the seniors served and those still in need.

“The services that we provide the seniors in Northern Chautauqua County are critical and the need is rapidly increasing,” said Debra Pacos, executive director of Dunkirk Fredonia Meals on Wheels. “During 2017 over 67,000 meals were delivered to more than 300 unduplicated clients by dedicated volunteers. Even as we face serious budget cuts, I am confident that if we keep working together, our senior neighbors can remain healthy and independent in their own homes while feeling more connected to our community as they age.”

As in years past, Dunkirk-Fredonia Meals on Wheels has invited elected officials, along with business and community leaders to participate throughout the month by accompanying Meals on Wheels volunteers as they deliver to the seniors on their daily routes. Last year over 30 individuals of all ages joined the March to brighten the day for 100 area homebound seniors. Contact Dunkirk-Fredonia Meals on Wheels at 366-8822 to schedule participation.

New to this year’s celebration is a special St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Fund-raiser on Saturday, March 17 featuring a choice between traditional Irish favorites of either corned beef and cabbage or Shepherd’s Pie, prepared by local caterer La Casa D’ Mangia. Pre-sale tickets for the take-out only dinners are $10. Call 366-8822 for more information or to purchase tickets.

Click. Donate. Nourish. From March 20 at 6 p.m. to March 21 at 6 p.m., Dunkirk-Fredonia Meals on Wheels will participate in “Spring It On” — a 24-hour fundraiser powered by the United Way. Make a donation by visiting the website www.springiton.org/organizations/dunkirk-fredonia-meals-on-wheels.

All proceeds will be used toward the purchase of meals for low-income seniors.

On Friday, March 30, Partners in Kind will pair up with Meals on Wheels to make special Easter Basket deliveries to lucky seniors in several local neighborhoods. Collection sites are located at Concord Pharmacy and Visions of Elegance Salon, both in Fredonia for those who wish to contribute items for the baskets.

One may also email either Melissa Pietrkiewicz (melissa@partnersinkindchq.org) or Katelin Fryberger (krosario@gmail.com) to see how to help.

Dunkirk-Fredonia Meals on Wheels would like to remind the community that even small change can make a big difference to the program. Look for donation boxes in local banks and participating businesses throughout the month of March to make a contribution. The collection boxes not only help to raise vital funds, they also create awareness of the agency’s important work.

A proud United Way Community Partner, Dunkirk-Fredonia Meals on Wheels also receives support for its programs and operations from the Chautauqua County Office for the Aging, RSVP, area foundations, service organizations, churches and individual donors. For more information on how to volunteer, contribute or speak out for the seniors in Northern Chautauqua County this March, contact Dunkirk-Fredonia Meals on Wheels at 366-8822 or email dpacosdfmow@netsync.net.